Blu-ray vs HD DVD: game over

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I agree, the market hasnt even begun to form...

DVD sales are slowing, yet they still make up 99.8% of disc sales. I can't see BD winning anything at this time. Sure blockbuster will expand and leech out BD into its smaller stores; but as Matthew Smith, Blockbuster senior VP of merchandising, said; If consumer demand for HD DVD rental discs heats up, the chain will quickly add them to stores. They will also be carrying them in their online division (which btw is doing well compared to their B&M stores they've been closing left & right. BBV lost $50 million in the 1st Q, while Netflix gained $10 million). They're also under increasing competition from OnDemand & DirecTV, Cox, & Comcasts massive coming HD rollout.

If you think back, DVD didn't take off until the shelf space grew into VHS's territory. According to Smith, they will only be stocking 2-5 each; a selection considerably smaller than even their games section.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117967122.html?categoryid=18&cs=1&query=blu%2Dray

BUT, if HD DVD players can maintain the 1/2 cost advantage through black friday & the holiday shopping spree i can see HD DVD gaining enough of a install base to be in for the long haul.

In my humble opinion, Dual-Format players will become the norm; and it will become BD & HD DVD competing for disc rights by lowering licensing costs. Which will only produce better, less expensive products for consumers. Right now there are Dual-Format LG, Samsung, HP, Asus

Let us not forget that Toshiba's including HD DVD in every laptop in 2k8; they will also have a pricing advantage being the inventors of NAND and SSDs becoming mainstream in 2k8. According to bloomberg analysts are expecting 10 million laptops sold, and Intel (a member of the HD DVD group) is working on an IGP incorporating Broadcom's HD decoders which will be available in even the cheapest $599 notebook.

Or the fact that NBC/Universal/Studio Canal/Weinstein is still exclusive to HD DVD. Warner lobbying hard for its TotalHD discs they've already put a considerable investment in means they aren't likely to abandon HD DVD anytime soon either.

So while this story does contain some facts, I feel it's missing the larger picture.

Posted by: IudsBBa380sG@...   Posted on: 06/20/07 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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